Matariki, the Māori new year, is set to be celebrated once again in late June. To mark the occasion, Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel's restaurant, Te Kaahu, has comprised a specialist menu full of culture and tradition.
Featured on the menu are such delicacies as kina pate with fried bread and watercress oil as a starter, paired with a 2023 Paritua 'Stone Paddock' sauvignon blanc. For the main, guests can feast upon hangi pork belly, roast apple chutney, potatoes puree, broccolini, and crispy pork skin, paired with a 2022 Paritua 'Stone Paddock' syrah. For something sweet, guests can try the burnt sugar steam pudding, with kawakawa espuma, white chocolate florentine, toasted macadamia, horopito roasted pear, and a chocolate creamuex. Dessert is paired with a 2023 Paritua 'Stone Paddock' chardonnay.
The three course set menu is NZD 85 per person, with the wine pairing menu at an additional cost.
An inclusive buffet breakfast will also be included for guests who book between the 22nd and 28th of June.
Te Kaahu Executive Chef Nancye Pirini has worked for Accor since 2014 and was previously the head chef of Novotel Auckland Airport's signature restaurant, The Square. Pirini has proudly curated the Matariki menu, combining the best locally sourced produce and ingredients in a kitchen that was designed to be a fusion of cultural design, superior architecture and premium hospitality.
Throughout her career as an executive chef within the hotel sector, Pirini has garnered some of the top awards in the industry. In 2010, she led her kitchen team to win the title of "Restaurant of the Year".
Te Kaahu officially opened in December 2023 as part of the new hotel complex, following four extensive years of construction. Kiingitanga, celestial voyages, stories of great taniwha, and references to ancient and precious korowai are the inspiration for cultural design patterns created for Te Arikinui Pullman Auckland Airport Hotel.
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